In Zhongzheng Restaurant, shopkeeper Wang Zhongzheng sat quietly at the counter, staring at the stairs leading to the second floor, in a daze.
He really couldn't understand what Lin Shangli, Xiao Chen, and Jin Yiwei commander Xu Kaiying could discuss in the private room on the second floor.
Just as I was thinking about it, the private room door on the second floor creaked, and a figure flashed out.
"Is the discussion over so soon?" Wang Zhongzhen was stunned and couldn't help but look up.
"What's going on? Commander Xu doesn't seem to be in a high mood. He looks downcast and seems to be very depressed. Have they not reached an agreement?"
Standing up, Wang Zhongzhen hurriedly greeted him.
Standing at the top of the stairs, he looked at Xu Kaiying who was slowly descending with a respectful look on his face: "Master Commander, if you have anything you want, just give me your orders. You don't have to come down in person."
Waving her hands without saying a word, Xu Kaiying walked straight towards the door.
"Sir, you?" Wang Zhongzhen looked puzzled. He wanted to ask, but he never dared to say it.
I could only watch as the other party opened the door and disappeared onto the street.
On the second floor, in the private room.
Xiao Chen laughed loudly, took out the banknotes in his arms, and counted them one by one.
"How much is the total? Is it really one hundred thousand taels?" Lin Shangli, who was next to him, also leaned over and stared at the banknote with interest.
He brought his right thumb to his mouth and licked some saliva on it with his tongue. After counting the last few banknotes, Xiao Chen placed the banknotes on the table in front of Lin Shangli with excitement.
"No more, no less, a full hundred thousand taels."
"This Xu Kaiying has only been in Jinyiwei for a few months and has already spent so much money?" Lin Shangli asked in surprise.
One hundred thousand taels is definitely not a small amount. How can a commander of the Imperial Guard collect money at such a terrifying speed?
If this rate is maintained, the royal court's expenditures can basically be solved by relying on the Jin Yiwei in the future, so what else can we rely on taxes?
Xiao Chen chuckled and tapped the thick stack of banknotes with his right hand: "Jinyiwei has a large jurisdiction in the capital, and most of their jurisdictions are bustling streets. There are many shops on these streets, and this is the source of their money.
"
"The shops are all opened by Jinyiwei?"
Living in the palace all year round, and relying on guessing the emperor's thoughts to get to the position of the first eunuch in the palace, Lin Shangli's scheming is definitely one of the best.
However, he really doesn't understand these ways between the marketplace.
"How come this shop is owned by Jin Yiwei?" Xiao Chen chuckled and rubbed his nose, "However, no matter who opens it, Jin Yiwei will use various excuses to come to the door after a while to embarrass everyone. In order to calm things down, the merchants
All they could do was stuff their money into their arms. Over and over again, an unwritten rule was formed: if the shops on the street want to last a long time, they must pay Jin Yiwei's 'protection fee'."
"Isn't this just extortion?" Lin Shangli pointed to the banknotes on the table, "We can't accept these banknotes. These are the hard-earned money of ordinary people, and Dongchang will not feel at ease if he uses them."
"The factory owner is too worried." Xiao Chen hurriedly explained, "These merchants are all big merchants with money and power. In order to squeeze out each other, they took the initiative to pay protection fees to Jin Yiwei. One wanted to keep himself safe, and the other
They just want to seek the power of Jin Yiwei and suppress dissidents. For those people who really do small businesses to support their families, Jin Yiwei still looks down on the money. It is not worthwhile for Jin Yiwei to have a reputation of bullying the people for one or two taels of silver. Jin Yiwei
He's acting 'noble'."
"So, can I take the money?"
"You can definitely take it!" Xiao Chen blinked obscenely, "In the future, if Jin Yiwei is controlled, this kind of money will be our 'daily' income."
After hearing what Xiao Chen said, Lin Shangli patted the table with his palm and let out a long sigh: "Oh, shush."
"The factory owner is sighing that Xu Kaiying has a bad brain?"
"Yes. One thing must be explained clearly to him before he understands it. It is too tiring to communicate with this kind of people. How about we find a new candidate to serve as the commander of the Jinyiwei?"
"My subordinates believe that this move is inappropriate." Xiao Chen shook his head.
"Why?"
"Not to mention that at this juncture, it is difficult to find candidates for the emperor's test. Even if he passes the emperor's test, how long will it take for him to establish his prestige among the Jin Yiwei and completely control the Jin Yiwei by himself?
Time? Whether there will be any unforeseen changes during this period is still unknown."
"However, Xu Kaiying is too difficult to use. He just can't understand some easy-to-understand things."
"He has the advantage of being straight-minded." Xiao Chen grinned happily, "If he has no narrow-mindedness, it is easier to control. Now, his dignity has been completely trampled under our feet. If he continues to serve
The commander of Jin Yiwei, needless to say, Jin Yiwei will also be a subordinate of Dongchang from now on."
"That's what I say, but if there is really something that I want to ask him to handle, I'm just worried that he will fail."
"If anything happens to Mr. Factory Master in the future, just tell me. I will communicate with Jin Yiwei here." Xiao Chen patted his chest and signed his guarantee.
After lowering his head and thinking for a while, Lin Shangli made up his mind: "Go and communicate with Xu Kaiying about this matter. I have completely made a bad show, and you will be the one to sing the red face."
"Don't worry, Mr. Factory Master, Jin Yiwei will never escape our grasp this time."
With a smile, Xiao Chen picked up the banknote on the table and put it in his arms.
Let's say that after Xu Kaiying came out of Zhongzhen Restaurant, she felt extremely depressed. Looking up at the still bustling streets of Beijing, she couldn't vent her sadness, so she found a corner and burst into tears.
I think back then, I was the leader of Jinyiwei who was respected by everyone and held a high position.
No matter whether they were high-ranking officials or ordinary people, they were all respectful when they saw him.
But now, in such a huge capital city, there is no place for oneself.
The money was gone, and even his life was about to be lost. His life was a complete failure.
On the streets of the capital, everything is common, but it is really rare for a grown man to squat on the street and cry loudly.
After a while, people came over in twos and threes and gradually surrounded Xu Kaiying.
After all, he was a person who had nothing left. How could Xu Kaiying care about her face? The more she thought about it, the more aggrieved she felt. The cry that had been controlled before suddenly turned into a howling like a madman.
"Why is this grown man crying so sadly?"
"I guess it's because someone died in the family and I was too embarrassed to cry at home, so I ran out to vent."
"It's really difficult for a man in this world. He can't express the pain in his heart. If he really couldn't bear it, who would cry out loud without dignity like this on the street."
"Let's go, let's go. Let him vent, and he'll be fine after a while."
"Oh, poor man."
The people watching chattered and dispersed.
After walking part of the way, a new group of people came around, driven by curiosity.
Xu Kaiying was always surrounded, performing his heart-wrenching wails for passers-by for free.
Xiao Chen and Lin Shangli parted ways at the door of the restaurant.
Lin Shangli walked straight to the palace, while Xiao Chen followed the direction leading to Jin Yiwei, looking for "poor" Xu Kaiying.
Not far away, when he saw the crowd gathered on the street, Xiao Chen thought to himself, it couldn't be that meddlesome monk "making trouble" on the street again, right?
However, what seemed to be faintly heard from the crowd was not a noise, but a heart-rending wail.
Moreover, this wailing seems a bit familiar.
No, it’s that idiot Xu Kaiying, right?
With a trace of doubt, Xiao Chen pushed aside the crowd and walked in.
After finally squeezing to the end and seeing clearly the source of the crying, which was indeed Xu Kaiying, Xiao Chen suddenly felt an unknown anger in his heart.
Without saying a word, he kicked Xu Kaiying on the back.
Xu Kaiying, who was squatting on the ground with her head in her arms, was caught off guard and fell to the ground like a dog eating shit.
The thick lips that were crying loudly came into close contact with the bluestone floor. A piece of chicken shit from someone's hen was stuck on the lips without any bias.
The sadness in my heart instantly turned into rage.
Xu Kaiying slammed her hands on the ground, and her body immediately jumped into the air. Without even looking at who was behind her, she gathered her twelve powerful right feet and kicked back in the air with a terrifying sound of breaking wind.
